The Dead Won't Die Read Online Free PDF Page A

“I was hoping we could go over your statement for tomorrow’s hearing. Do you feel up for that, Jacob? I think it’d be a big help.”
    â€œWhere are Kelly Banis and Chelsea Walker?” he asked. “Why can’t I see them?”
    â€œJacob, we don’t need to worry about that right now. Our big concern is the hearing. A lot is riding on this. The future relationship of both our communities, in fact. So, please, let’s get you prepared. Now, as I understand it, you were a sort of police officer in your community. Is that right?”
    â€œI was the chief deputy of the constabulary, yes.”
    Brooks nodded. “Yes, that’s right. Would you prefer if, during the hearing, I addressed you as Chief Deputy Carlton?”
    â€œI go by Jacob.”
    â€œFair enough. Well, Jacob, the Executive Council will no doubt start with that as we try to get an understanding of your people and your values. And, just to give you fair warning, you should probably expect some rather direct questions on that from certain members of the council. We don’t have police officers here in Temple. We never have. Our community broke away from a brutal police state during the initial outbreak back in the 2090s. I know you’re too young to remember that time, but it was awful. Our community was, and still is, a peaceful one. Research has always been one of our core values, and the authorities back then forced us to direct that research into finding a cure and finding ways to kill the zombies. We were doctors and chemists and physicists and biologists, and yet we found ourselves forced to create weapons of devastating violence. I’m sorry. I get emotional about it, just thinking of those days. I don’t mean to philosophize, but it was a rough and difficult time. It cost us dearly to break away from that control, and when we finally did, and we came here, we promised ourselves that never again would we be yoked to the burden of police authority. You should know that many on the council still harbor strong emotions on the subject. I want you to prepare yourself for that. That will, almost certainly, be the main point of contention in bringing our people together.”
    â€œWhy won’t you tell me where Kelly Banis and Chelsea Walker are?”
    Brooks let out a long sigh. “Jacob, nobody is trying to keep anything from you. They are safe. They’ll be speaking at the hearing tomorrow, in fact. I think Chelsea is scheduled to go before you, and Kelly Banis immediately after you. Once her testimony is complete, you will all be reunited. You’ll be given free range of Temple. You can go to the beach if you want. You can even ride on one of those clipper ships I hear you like watching so much. Our doors will be open to you.”
    Jacob’s eyes narrowed. “As soon as the hearing’s done?”
    â€œAs soon as the hearing’s done, yes.”
    â€œAnd until then, I’m to stay sequestered like a prisoner.”
    â€œYou’re not a prisoner, Jacob.”
    â€œReally? Is that a fact? I can’t leave my room without causing an alarm. I’m not allowed to see my friends. I’m told I have some mysterious hearing to go to and I’m not even told the charges against me. And now you’re telling me that your Executive Council will be prejudiced against me simply because I’m a cop. Sure sounds like I’m a prisoner.”
    Brooks took a deep breath. He crossed the floor to where Jacob stood and put a hand on his shoulder.
    â€œYou’re not a prisoner,” he said. “And you have friends here, Jacob. I need you to understand that. I want our people to come together.”
    â€œYeah, is that a fact?”
    â€œIt is, Jacob. You told me, not ten days ago, that lives could have been saved if only our two communities had come together sooner. I couldn’t have said it better myself. We are in this together. When you die, you will